Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their work on this issue. The fundamental point is whether this was a political decision. Although the six areas are somewhat valuable, what of apprenticeships? There is a difficulty in getting both genders to undertake apprenticeships, which must change, given that the professions of qualified plumbers, carpenters and other tradespeople are among the most useful and important in society. The authorities in the United Kingdom considered establishing degree-level apprenticeships in order that people would have the same level of qualifications whether they were economists, carpenters, doctors or members of another profession. That would add value to apprenticeships and could be considered in terms of making them attractive to both genders. Also of interest are the situations in regard to arts and sport.

Was a political decision behind the approach taken in this area? If the members on this side of the table were asked to address the issue, we would identify the most glaring inequalities in budget expenditure and see what could be done to address them. Social protection accounts for approximately a third of budget expenditure and there is still great discrimination in how it is distributed. This morning, the Taoiseach engaged with Deputy Paul Murphy on job activation. Women are discriminated against in job activation. As regards housing, families headed by a lower-earning woman face all kinds of discrimination in the context of a desperate social and affordable housing deficit. Would it not have been more useful and immediate to address the big political expenditure decisions for which the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is also responsible? I appreciate that steps in that direction are being taken. I presume regard was had to the situations in the Basque country and Austria, which are of interest. Some members met members of the Scottish Parliament last year and heard about a similar programme there. Why was the other approach not taken? Why did the Department not start by trying to remedy the really glaring inequalities?